Hog scraper-beater



Sept' 29, 1942- J; RAcHFoRu 2,296,873.

l HOG SCRAPER-BEATER Filed June 14, 1939 Patented Sept. 29, 1942 UNITED sTgTss PATENT OFFICE HoG soRAPER-BEATER John Rachford, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 14, 1939, serial No. 279,217

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved hog scraper beater.

In the practice up to the present time, hog carcasses were passed for dehairing along a path where a large number of beaters or scrapers, each of which is mounted upon a rapidly revolving wheel, come in contact with all parts of the carcass and remove the hair from it. In order that the meat and hide shall not be disturbed it was necessary that the dehairing knives be resiliently mounted. The best known mounting for this purpose is a section of fabric enforced rubber belting, which is usually about four inches in width and nine inches in length, Three knives or Scrapers are bolted upon each section of belting, and the latter is then fastened to the wheel by bolts extending through the belting. The lower portion of the belting was supported at the back by a rigid abutment, which was somewhat curved at the top in a, direction opposite to that in which the wheel was to be moved. This abutment was only about 21/2 inches in height. During use the belting gradually acquired a permanent set by bending around an axis somewhat above the abutment. This bending weakened the structure, and breakage ultimately occurred at this point. The bolt holes fastening the device in place were also a source of trouble and weakness.

In accordance with the present invention a preformed scraper beater is provided having much longer life than those previously made from the same material, and in addition improved means are provided for anchoring the scraper to the wheel and for securing the knives to the scraper.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the scraper beater; Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof; Fig. 3 is a front view and Fig. 4 is a side view of the scraper beater secured in the fastening device.

As there shown, the scraper beater element comprises a rectangular strip of rubber belting material I0. This strip is bent about the point II into substantially the shape which the material will tend to acquire in practice, but not quite to such point. In practice, about twothirds to three-fourths of the ultimate bending is preformed into the element. Ordinarily the belting is formed by impregnating strips of heavy fabric, such as canvas, with rubber and then vulcanizing the rubber. In the present case the strips are preferably cut to length and are then vulcanized to the shape shown in the drawing.

The actual bend preferred commences three inches from the base of the element, and has about a 61/2 inch radius.

A lug I8, of rubber, or reinforced rubber is integrally vulcanized to the element, preferably at the time of manufacture. The lug is of sufficient size to act as an anchor for the element, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Three knife or scraper blades I3, I4 and I5 are bolted to the top of the beater element. Two of these blades are substantially at the outer end of the beater element, while one is below and between them. Preferably the blades are stamped or pressed from a plate of steel'IZ, so that the alignment of all the knives is permanently taken care of. The knives are hardened before attachment. Up to the present time all of the knives were separately attached, and were always getting out of line and thus causing difficulty. The apparatus of the present application is also superior in that it requires the use of only two bolts I6 and I1, whereas the previous arrangements required at least six, which additionally weakened the beater element.

When the beater element I0 is secured to the wheel 25, the lug I8 is inserted in the cavity I9 in the abutment of the locking device 2|. The abutment is preferably permanently secured to the rim 26 of the Wheel 25. The arm 22 of the locking device is pivotally mounted on the pivot 24, which itself is Secured to the rim of the wheel 25. The arm 22 is swung downwardly until its face 22a engages the front lower portion of the beater element, as shown in Fig. 4. The bolts 23 are then fastened to lock the beater element in position.

The wheel 25 can be a one piece casting, as distinguished from the customary two piece wheel. The one piece structure avoids the difculties due to unequal loosening of the fastenings, and is possible in the present structure in part because of the improved action of the beater elements. In the old structures it was necessary to have the wheels in two parts because some 53 of them are placed in line upon one shaft, and it was too dilcult to remove all of them to get at a middle wheel. The action of the present structure is, however, so much more trouble-free, and the life is enough longer that a single casting may be employed.

The preforming of the beater element has been found not to weaken the effect of the knives, as might have been expected. On the contrary, the abutment has been raised almost one inch higher than was previously the case, and on this account it is possible to give the same element the same stiffness at the bent position heretofore had by a new element. Furthermore, it retains its tension substantially uniformly throughout its life.

The new means of holding the beater belt in place is highly advantageous over the former means of bolting it onto the wheel. When the bolting method was employed two bolts were used and these Were drawn up so tightly as to permit no exing of the beater belt at the points of attachment. The new securing means does not require such great pressure and, therefore,

permits the exing of the beater element at the point of attachment. This greatly prolongs the life of the belt and gives to it a greater resilience and opportunity for internal readjustment than was heretofore the case.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A dehairing beater element comprising a block of flexible fabric material having a free end pre- 10 formed in a set arcuate shape.

JOHN RACHIEORD. 

